This came up in a couple of threads recently, so I decided to give mkUSB a whirl. Having done it both ways, I'd say they're pretty similar in terms of difficulty. And both work. On the whole, though, I agree with Spearmint2 that mkUSB is a better choice. Was developed by senior Ubuntu guru sudodus (Nio Wiklund) to do precisely this task and is now on version 12 ("dus"). Also, unlike MultiSystem, mkUSB can be installed to a live session, making this the only feasible method of which I'm aware to create a persistent Linux drive greater than 4 GB with a Windows machine.

Anyhoo, Linux is all about choice. As this is a tutorial, I thought it would be helpful to jot down the steps. Here is the path I found works best.

1. Install app. There are several options, but this is adequate for a single user looking for the current version:

3. Cleanup. The reason I only use 95% of the remaining space for the persistent partition is that I want to leave room for wear leveling. Quit mkUSB, open GParted and delete the usbdata partition on the USB drive (space becomes unallocated). Also, sudodus doesn't mention anything about not mounting the persistent partition, but I follow Laurent85'sadvice and disable automount for an mkUSB persistent drive (for "how to" in Mate, see here).

Appreciate all the info! A lot to digest but that's what's it's all about. Especially thankful none of you went "off" and started ranting about how STUPID it is to want a portable Linux O.S. on a pendrive. Look around at some of the other forums and see the rants some folks have posted. I've gotten a lot of censure for "informing those unenlightened" plebes of their immaturity and ignorance. So, KUDOS to all for "gabbing" this "bull-by-the-horns". My only question now is whether to install the O.S. on a flashdrive, or use the method prescribed in this thread. Leaning towards the "live" w/ persistence.

Don't know why anyone would think it's stupid, if the USB flashdrive is a fast one. You can pull it out, keep it elsewhere, and also use on any other computer you need to access, even if some things on other computer just might not work (wifi, touchpad, some graphics)

Couldn't agree more, but it was said..."unenlightened and ignorant", just about sums it up.

Everyone:

Damn...still having problems getting persistence. Can't figure it out (yet), but here's the scenario: Started with LM 18.3x on the pendrive. Went through steps to add persistence, but then, it wouldn't "boot". I have some thoughts, but truly, am not sure what's going on. Which brings up another problem. I cannot get gparted to make an extended partition. Well, you may see where I'm going with this. If not, request clarification. For whatever reasons, I have to use Rufus for it's the only "installer" I've found that allows the O.S. to operate correctly/...as it should! Guess there's a UEFI issue(?) I used this video as a template to install the persistence and it failed(wouldn't boot).--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLoYBobVpO0, thus, my question about extended partition. i.e. I think if I can make an extended partition and put casper-rw & swap on/in partition within the LM O.S. partition, maybe things will work?????Thanx to all who've responded.

It also puts in a backup and restore shell program one can use. Can use for UEFI install, or 64 bit install on MBR.

Not so sure this is a good idea for it states "Warning about overwriting the target device mkusb will 'use the whole device', actually only the head end (size of the iso file), but the rest of the device is not available." Can't be wastin' an entire 16GB pendrive.
THANX

I have always been able to create a USB sticks with greater than 4gb of persistent space using "MultiSystem" and the instructions in the beginning of this post for every edition and version of Linux Mint through 18.3.

But, if you have a nice large USB stick of 16gb or more, then just install the full version of Linux Mint which has all the security features enabled.

I have always been able to create a USB sticks with greater than 4gb of persistent space using "MultiSystem" and the instructions in the beginning of this post for every edition and version of Linux Mint through 18

RE: phd21

How is WISH this had worked. Go back and look at all my replies to all these posts. NOTHING (so far) has worked. I'll be damned if I can figure out what's wrong? I'm not certain, but I'm thinking it has to do with UEFI issues. This isn't supposed to be this difficult!!!
THANX:

I do not know if UEFI is a problem or not with USB sticks over 4gb as I do not have a computer with that.

It is truly simple to create USB sticks with persistence of 4gb or less using "unetbootin", "Multibootusb", or "MultiSystem", etc ... It is only when you want to go over the 4gb of persistence limit that it becomes more difficult. Honestly, I rarely ever need to have a USB stick with persistence over 4gb. You have an 8gb USB stick with appx 2gb for Linux Mint, then 4gb of easy persistence = appx. 6gb used; using the advanced methods in this post will only gain you appx 2gb more, what is the point?

I just gave you links to download and easily install MultiSystem using their deb file. It seemed like you were having a problem with adding their repository.

If the deb file does not work, then install their MultiSystem repository using the instructions below. I just ran these instructions below on a brand new freshly installed Linux Mint Mate 18.3 and it worked perfectly.

To install this using the add repository method, open a console terminal, type in, or copy & paste, each line below one by one: Click "Select All" above command, right click the highlighted command, select Copy (or Ctrl+Insert), click in the console terminal window, and right click paste (or Shift+Insert), repeat for each command.

persistent partitions quit working after 17.2 unless someone fixes a bug in the newest casper which is in 17.3, where you can ONLY use a persistent file and limited to 4GB.

Spearmint: Has this changed yet?Rick

Seemingly not, based on your current attempts.

Not so sure this is a good idea for it states "Warning about overwriting the target device mkusb will 'use the whole device', actually only the head end (size of the iso file), but the rest of the device is not available." Can't be wastin' an entire 16GB pendrive.
THANX

That's what you want it to do, on a standard flashdrive (maybe not on one with a security VCD program on it). mkusb puts the ISO in the front of the flashdrive. You can then create an EXT2 partition (better on flashdrive than EXT4 journaling file system) on the remaining drive space and name it casper-rw, then delete any casper-rw file if exists elsewhere. That way the extra space in the second partition becomes the "persistence" area used.

In this one, I started with a small FAT16 partition, since some older BIOS won't boot if there's an ISO or VCD type file in the first partition, but will on later parititions if it detects a FAT partition alone in first partition. I have one older computer that has that type BIOS program on it. That's probably not necessary on your computer. Remember, the main compressed file, after installing, is in the casper folder and named filesystem.squashfs. A casper-rw file will also be created in first partition, but YOU then create another partition on rest of drive, Label it casper-rw, and then delete the casper-rw file in the first partition, then reboot.

I have always been able to create a USB sticks with greater than 4gb of persistent space using "MultiSystem" and the instructions in the beginning of this post for every edition and version of Linux Mint through 18.3.

But, if you have a nice large USB stick of 16gb or more, then just install the full version of Linux Mint which has all the security features enabled.

RE: pdh21:

I do have a 16GB-3.0 pendrive that I am trying to use to install a 'working" Linux/Ubuntu distro on. The drive is relatively new and, after many and exhaustive tests, is properly functioning. IDK why but I've run the "commands" and suggestions that have worked for others, yet everything goes to hell when I attempt them.(i.e. check posts reply in this thread) I'm wondering, but not at all sure,if I'm being thwarted by an UEFI issue.(?) So, I'll add another reply stating all of the "specs" and maybe you or anyone can discover what the heck is causing all the failures. I'm at a loss!!!
THANX

After many attempts and too many failures, I'm at wit's end. I've attempted all the instructions in this thread and all, at some point or another, have failed. I do not discount anything being offered to help, it's just nothing has worked. So, I'll post the relevant specs and maybe someone will discover something that I'm missing.

Tried to install: Xubuntu 18.3; LM 18.3x; Xubuntu 17.10.1 & Ubuntu 17.10; Puppy Linux and Linux Lite 8.0(I believe) and a few others. I did so using any of these: Unetbootin-Pendrivelinux-LiLi: these programs produced an O.S. that was completely malfunctioning. Rufus does create a good, working O.S., but I cannot get persistence to install without corruption to the O.S. (after adding persistence via instructions, USB/O.S. fails to boot) Please understand, I've tried all suggestions in this thread; I've responded to those suggestions. I'm NOT criticizing!!! Here is the comp and pendrive I'm using: Dell Multiplex 7040/7090 running Win 7(about 6 y/o) Lexar 16GB-3.0 pendrive that, by all tests readings, is working properly.

69Rixter wrote:RE: pdh21: I do have a 16GB-3.0 pendrive that I am trying to use to install a 'working" Linux/Ubuntu distro on. The drive is relatively new and, after many and exhaustive tests, is properly functioning. IDK why but I've run the "commands" and suggestions that have worked for others, yet everything goes to hell when I attempt them.(i.e. check posts reply in this thread) I'm wondering, but not at all sure,if I'm being thwarted by an UEFI issue.(?) So, I'll add another reply stating all of the "specs" and maybe you or anyone can discover what the heck is causing all the failures. I'm at a loss!!!
THANX

I have always thought that USB sticks with persistence were excellent for creating a USB stick(s) with the Live test-drive version of Linux Mint ".iso" file where you can save most settings and install applications that will be retained even after rebooting, which cannot be done with a typically created installation DVD or USB stick of the live test-drive versions of Linux Mint. This was very popular when USB sticks were not available above 8gb or were very costly which of course is not the case today. What is nice is that you can use smaller USB sticks between 2gb-8gb because the Linux Mint systems are usually around 2gb or less. This is great for people like me who test Linux Mint for others and try to create training videos regarding these installation versions, and for people who install it for others. AFAIK, it is not meant for people to run Linux Mint from as an alternative to fully installing Linux Mint because there is no user security.

As I stated before I do not currently have a newer computer with UEFI to test anything regarding that ( ). But, most systems allow you to disable UEFI or to choose "legacy boot" options in their Bios settings.

Which edition and version of Linux Mint have you been trying to create a USB stick with persistence with? What is your goal for doing this versus fully installing Linux Mint to a USB stick? I think it is a great idea to fully install Linux Mint to a USB stick for a backup of your current system in case of emergency (ICE) due to hardware or update failure, or as a portable travel version, etc...

As for fully installing a Linux Mint system to a USB stick of 16gb or larger, there are good posts on doing that and videos. It is fairly easy, but I have noticed that it is can be slightly different depending upon which edition and version of Linux Mint you want to install. You can create another post for this, or PM me because this post is for USB sticks with persistence.

Were you able to install MultiSystem yet?

FYI: Using an 8gb stick, or even a 16gb stick, with Persistence uses the Linux Mint .iso file which cannot be changed and is read only. So, if you run all the usual updates, that persistent space can be eaten up pretty quickly in addition to whatever apps you want to install, because it cannot change the iso file so all the updates and newly installed apps are taking up new additional space, whereas a fully installed version the updates can overwrite the existing files, and you can cleanup or delete unwanted applications and packages, etc... But you need a USB stick of at least 16gb or more to fully install Linux Mint.

FYI-2: Are you trying to use MS Windows for these instructions because these are for people using installed Linux Mint systems to create USB sticks? Unetbootin will work on all systems.

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1.0 out of 5 starsCompatible with only 1 of my 3 devices
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This product only worked with one of my three devices. I contacted tech support, and here is the response:

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One good thing about a LIVE with persistence setup on flashdrive, is if you install a program or some update that messes things up, you can delete it and anything else in the persistent casper-rw area and the flashdrive will boot up just like it did before you did all those changes.

I will do my best to answer your questions in order. "*As I stated before I do not currently have a newer computer with UEFI to test anything regarding that ( ). But, most systems allow you to disable UEFI or to choose "legacy boot" options in their Bios settings." This is a 6 y/o Dell Multiplex 7040/7090 (I access both) *"What is your goal for doing this versus fully installing Linux Mint to a USB stick?" The same as everyone else; To be able to use Linux/Ubuntu on any computer that does not already employ it. As far as complete install to a pendrive...that also failed *"Were you able to install MultiSystem yet?" NO...please see "To All Who've Responded" in posts *"Are you trying to use MS Windows for these instructions because these are for people using installed Linux Mint systems to create USB sticks? I've tried both O.S.'s *"Unetbootin will work on all systems." Unfortunately, that is not true. I've posted a reply, obviously after you last responded. Hope there is information in that post that answer any/all your questions and HOPEFULLY you'll see where/how I've done something wrong. TNX phd21

RE: Spearmint2

*Are you using THIS on it' No, not exactly. It is a Lexar 16 GB-3.0 but not S75 and no encryption. *"Get one of these, known to work with Linux and fast" Yes, I'm sure it is and yes it a good price. But, I've got a pendrive that's in working order already. I hope you got to see/read my reply : "To all who've responded" Perhaps you might acknowledge some error or misstep I've implemented.(?) Or maybe there's something there you'd like to question? TNX

Just now attempted this and got a failure(error) notice: http://www.ubuntubuzz.com/2015/04/creat ... linux.html. This is a fairly new, been tested over and over, working 16 GB-3.0 pendrive. It was "blank" except for the Fat32 format. This is the error; Erreur: MultiSystem n'accepte pas les espaces dans les label de disques. And YES, I had "English" designated/tiked (twice)!!
W-T-F?